How about a little ice with your thunder?

Posted Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at 12:52 PM

I'm writing this with the idea that many of you will never read it because you probably still have no power. However, for the few fortunate souls who do, I thought I would share my morning with you. Nothind major, just a story.

After a full night's thunder ice (isn't that a cool phrase?) I woke up wondering what it looked like outside. I put on my shoes and headed outside for a morning cigarette, but was stopped in my tracks.

Normally we leave the television on at night so there's typically noise in the living room, but not today. As I passed through the kitchen I hear these cracking sounds. It took a second before I realized that I was hearing a tree trying to crash into my house.

I screamed like a girl and dove for the hallway. My poor wife Amber was scared, too. FORTUNATELY, the tree didn't come through the house. It only bounced off the roof and fell into my driveway.

Once I realized the grim reaper hadn't come to retrieve me, it was actually pretty funny thinking of that dive across the house.

Now comes the problem. The tree fell on the power line that leads into my house. At this hour it still hangs across and my power keeps flickering in and out and in and out. My power pole is standing at about a 45-degree angle and I imagine at some point today it's going to come crashing down so the wire can bounce and spark around the yard.

We've been calling the electric company since 6:30 when it happened, but no luck. See, when the tree fell it didn't knock the power out so that's puts us WAY down the priority list for today. I'm sure the power will wait until it's dark and extra cold to make sure we can fully appreciate winter in all of its glory.

same here, except it wasnt the whole tree, just a HUGE limb, not even our tree mind you but the neighbors and it fell into our yard and the powerline is just hanging there, with the limb still on it. Everywhere I have been on the way to work was trees downed or limbs down. I am thankful that even though my power keeps going off it does come back on! Also, luckily for me I do have 1 source of heat that is gas. It will not heat my whole house but at least my family can stay somewhat warm!

-- Posted by 2megirl on Tue, Feb 12, 2008, at 1:06 PM

Corey Noles' response:

Glad to hear it. We have no source that isn't electric, so if or when it goes out it'll be cold. Thankfully everyone at your home is safe.

I stood on my porch this morning after my tree fell and in less than a half hour I heard a total of 14 come down. It's really creepy not being in control at all like that.

Same story here. Nothing like being awakened by a loud crash...felt like an earthquake at 4 a.m.

I got up and checked and a large limb had fallen onto the house. It sounded like it was coming through the roof! I watched out my window this morning as several limbs came crashing down in my yard. That dreadful cracking sound they make sends shivers up and down my spine...

-- Posted by Amanda on Tue, Feb 12, 2008, at 2:25 PM

I'm really leary of that on-again, off-again power, so while it was going on, I kept my computer UNPLUGGED! No trusting to those fickle surge protectors for me!

I'm wondering if all the power has been restored? Mine came back on a couple of hours ago.

Isn't it amazing how it takes awhile for you to figure out what to do with yourself when you're stuck in the house with no power?

Well, maybe most of you city folks aren't "stuck," but no way am I trying to get out of here with all that ice! All my appointments are herewith cancelled!!

I just hope I can keep the electricity. The tree limbs are still crashing.

-- Posted by goat lady on Tue, Feb 12, 2008, at 3:52 PM

Lots of limbs down, yard and driveway a solid sheet of ice that's the envy of any Ice Capades producer (see my comments on Lady Madeline's blog), but I have power - for now.

Ya'll hang in there. It's gotta melt eventually.

Oh, I wish I was in Dixie......

-- Posted by Ducky on Wed, Feb 13, 2008, at 8:59 AM

for every branch that cracked (sounded like gun shots) the hound (yes a "hunting???" dog) Barked,yelped, ran out the dog door, then back into the bedroom and under the bed. ALL NIGHT LONG!!. The yard looks like a war zone.

-- Posted by myheart on Wed, Feb 13, 2008, at 8:10 PM

Hey, Corey,

I couldn't help but notice that in your ice column on the editorial page in the NSC you made noooooo mention of "screaming like a girl." Hahaha.

Just kidding. I enjoy both your blog and your articles. Keep up the good work. Thanks for filling in at Bloomfield.

Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.